St. Louis Cardinals (42-31) @ Milwaukee Brewers (27-47)
The Brewers are in a familiar place, bringing up the rear in the N.L. Midwest Division. They have lost seven in a row, so they are due to bust out with a big series. This is our first visit to Milwaukee’s Miller Park, which seats 42,200 and slightly favors hitters. We took 2 out of 3 against the Brewers in St. Louis earlier this season.
June 25, 2021: G074 (43-31, 1st, +5.5G)
Star: STL SP Jose Flores 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Ryder Jones had two solo homers for the Redbirds. J.P. Crawford had three hits.
Milestone: Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel recorded his 400th career save, the 7th player to do so. The 33-year-old reliever is only 24 saves behind John Franco for #5 on the all-time list.
June 26, 2021: G075 (43-32, 1st, +4.5G)
Star: MIL CF Luis Valenzuela 3-7, HR 2, RBI (GWRBI)
Rodebaugh gave up 5 runs in 2 innings, including back-to-back homers in the 12th.
The bullpen blew 3 saves in the game; Rodebaugh blew the save twice!
Pitching Staff Changes
It’s time for some accountability after that gut-wrenching defeat. Ray Chambers’ last four starts have not gone well: 18.2 IP, 30 H, 20 ER, 13 BB, 17 K. Michael Wacha will move back into the rotation in the #4 slot. Ray Chambers will go to the bullpen to work out his difficulties in long relief. Reliever Ryan Rodebaugh was horrible in yesterday’s extra inning game, and 24-year-old Darryl Chambers is absolutely killing it at AAA (15 saves, 1.14 WHIP, 55 Ks in 31 IP). Rodebaugh will be optioned back to Memphis with Darryl Chambers taking over the role of 7th-inning setup man in St. Louis.
June 27, 2021: G076 (43-33, 1st, +3.5G)
Star: MIL SP Chris Kohler 9 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Rosenthal tired in the 9th. Friend replaced him to pitch to a LH cleanup hitter, but Milwaukee pinch-hit with RHB Sheldon Neuse who socked a walk-off homer.
Yankees ace SP Kyle Gibson (11-2, 2.36) will miss 3 months with an elbow strain.
Memphis SP John Lamb threw a no-hitter vs. the Iowa Cubs.
Players of the Week:
AL: HOU 3B Ramiro Pina 11-24, 2 HR, 7 RBI
NL: COL LF Dominic Smith 14-25, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Palm Beach 1B Jim Farmer was Player of the Week in the Florida State League (high-A). Farmer was 7-11 with 2 HR and 9 RBI.
State College DH Evan Johnson was Player of the Week in the New York-Penn League (short-A). Johnson was 12-27 in the opening week of their season.